Slider

Tsholotsho Gukurahundi victims demand apology

Published

6 months ago

November 25, 2024

BY NIZBERT MOYO

A Gukurahundi survivor Hlanganiso Sithole (76) from Sikhale line in Matabeleland North’s Tsholotsho district still bears the scars of the torture he endured at the hands of the Fifth Brigade.

Sithole said his three brothers were shot dead in June 1984 while he managed to escape from the firing squad.

“There were four of us where we were seated at one of the family homestead,” he narrated the events of the day

“Soldiers approached us and accused us of being dissidents. During that process one of my brothers, Oscar, had gone to the toilet while they were interrogating us and by the time he came back they attacked accusing him of being a dissident…

“While we were still shocked, they started firing. My three brothers were killed instantly.

“I survived through the grace of the Lord because I could not believe it was me but God’s hand, at play.”

He is one of the many survivors of the 1980’s Gukurahundi massacres demanding answers for the torture they endured at the hands of the Fifth Brigade.

In July this year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially launched the Gukurahundi outreach programme in Bulawayo where he said the program would be led by the chiefs.

The programme has failed to take off amid indications that a budget for the exercise has not been released.

Some of the victims told Southern Eye on Sunday that they want an apology and compensation before they can die due to old age.

A visit to Tsholotsho on Wednesday by Southern Eye on Sunday revealed that the majority of villagers are still traumatised by the torture, rape and killings.

“These people were killing anyone whom they come across with, even the police were telling us that they are afraid of them because they could be killed as well,” Sithole claimed.

“I am an innocent man, I need compensation.”

An elderly woman said she has not overcome the trauma of rape at the hands of the Fifth Brigade.

“I still recall that it was on a Monday, “ the woman who cannot be identified by name for ethical reasons said.

“They tortured my husband and left him for dead.

“They found me putting on a maternity dress which I was given by my youngster who had given birth.

“One of the soldiers was stopped by his colleagues after he tried to spear my stomach with his bayonet accusing me of bearing a dissident in my stomach.”

He husband succumbed to the torture injuries, she said.

“One of the soldiers raped me and continued coming to me every day at night,” she said.

No definitive death toll has been established but the late Robert Mugabe’s Fifth Brigade, trained by North Korean instructors, is estimated to have killed up to 20,000 people between 1983 and 1987.

Mnangagwa is accused of being the architect of the killings as he was State Security minister at the time.

SOURCE: SOUTHERN EYE

In the community

Hwange police seek public’s help in locating missing teen

Published

2 weeks ago

May 15, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

The Hwange police are urgently seeking the public’s assistance in locating 16-year-old Latoya Lisa Munkuli, who went missing on May 7, this month.

Latoya, a dark-complexioned female juvenile, was last seen leaving her residence in Hwange around 4 pm.

She was wearing a distinctive outfit consisting of green trousers and a white T-shirt, and carried a black satchel. She stands approximately 1.6 meters tall.

Inspector Glory Banda of the Hwange police is leading the investigation and urges anyone with information about Latoya’s whereabouts to come forward.

If you have any information about Latoya’s disappearance, please contact Inspector Banda on 0785961747 or 0771256607.

National

Coal train in flames: NRZ locomotive damaged in fire incident

Published

2 months ago

April 16, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) locomotive suffered significant damage after catching fire while transporting export coal to Zambi. The incident occurred between Kalala and Matetsi sidings, resulting in the explosion of the locomotive’s fuel tanks.

According to the NRZ press statement on Monday, “A National Railways of Zimbabwe locomotive suffered some damages after it caught fire this afternoon while transporting export coal to Zambia.” Fortunately, the crew members on board managed to escape unharmed.

The NRZ responded swiftly to the incident, dispatching a rescue train with crews to the site. The team successfully extinguished the fire, preventing further damage. However, the locomotive itself sustained considerable damage.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, with investigations currently underway. “Investigations are already underway to establish the cause of the fire and the amount of damage to the locomotive,” the NRZ statement read.

In the community

Human-wildlife conflict claims 18 lives in Zimbabwe’s first quarter

Published

2 months ago

April 16, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has reported a disturbing trend of human-wildlife conflict in the country’s first quarter of 2025. According to the authority, 18 people have lost their lives, and 32 others have been injured in encounters with wildlife.

ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo revealed that the authority received 579 cases of human-wildlife conflict, which they managed to respond to promptly. The incidents have also resulted in significant livestock losses, with at least 53 cattle and 85 goats killed by wildlife.

The districts most affected by these incidents include Binga, Hwange, Kariba, Chiredzi, Hurungwe, Nyaminyami, and Mbire. ZimParks has been working tirelessly to raise awareness about wildlife behaviors and effective preventive measures in these areas.

In response to the crisis, ZimParks has translocated 129 animals back into protected areas and eliminated 158 animals deemed problematic.

“We encourage communities to continue reporting incidents to ZimParks Problem Animal Control numbers and local leadership, such as Councillors, Traditional Leaders, and Rural District Council Authorities, to ensure that we preserve lives,” Farawo urged.

The significant increase in livestock losses, with cattle deaths rising from 18 to 53 and goat deaths from 21 to 85 compared to the same period in 2024, highlights the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict in Zimbabwe.

ZimParks’ efforts to mitigate the conflict include community initiatives to educate people on managing wildlife encounters effectively.